Machine safety in the traditional sense refers to add-on electrical and mechanical components that protect personnel from injury or death while working in or near industrial machinery.

  A select group of industrial equipment companies are executing a formula for success that peers may want to take note of, if they plan to remain competitive in the emerging global market.

 Paul was a conscientious employee. He would do a little extra and try to save the company money.

  In order to improve your manufacturing performance, you should put in a manufacturing execution system (MES) system and integrate to your enterprise resource planning (ERP)—right?

 Future robot systems cannot be a mere extrapolation of today’s technology, but should generate whole new application arenas.

 Organizations that have adopted a Lean Manufacturing methodology continue to identify elements of their organizations that have diminished in terms of their strategic value.

 Bruno Kisala, managing director of The Automation Federation, recently talked with Automation World Editor in Chief Gary Mintchell about the new directions and goals of the organization. 

  Mark Morgan is currently chief executive officer of Stratex Advisors, Shingle Springs, Calif. He was formerly chief learning officer at IPSolutions Inc. and practice director of the Stanford Advanced Project Management Program. He was also co-author with Raymond E. Levitt and William Malek of “Executing Your Strategy: How to Break It Down & Get It Done,” published by the Harvard Business School Press. He recently met with Automation World Editor in Chief Gary Mintchell to discuss the ideas behind the book.

  “There are only two problems in life,” says productivity guru David Allen, in a white paper titled “Make It Up and Make It Happen” (found at www.davidco.com). So, what are the two problems?

  Companies may gain significant tax benefits through a deduction aimed at U.S. manufacturers enacted in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

  When I wrote my July editorial on wireless sensor networking, “Hype or Reality,” I was somewhat frustrated trying to discover what was happening after the release of products into users’ hands following a year of talk.

 Just over a year ago, I considered ISA to be a “melting iceberg.” Since then, the organization has been making good progress, and plans are crystallizing for new growth and success.

 Organizations that excel in developing their people also tend to be high-performance businesses that dominate their markets.

 To become a high-performance business today requires leadership within an entirely new framework of understanding.

  In manufacturing, as in other industries, human resources must be effectively deployed for optimal utilization and effectiveness in order to drive accelerated growth and profitability.

  Lean manufacturing initiatives, much like diets, are designed to trim fat and make you fitter, faster and more competitive—in short, a high performer.

  What is hype? I guess one definition would be when someone is promoting a product of one sort or another as real, when in fact, its reality is far down the road.

  Just-in-time production scheduling will not work without adequate material on hand, while carrying excessive inventory strains cash flow and warehouse capacity.

  Innovation does not depend on just one person, or even a few—it stems from a culture that encourages and breeds innovative thinking.

 “The chip combines some old, familiar features with some new and pretty innovative features.”